Slieve Donard Trail, Mournes

Slieve Donard mountain is named after a saint – known in Irish as Domhanghart. Saint Donard built a small prayer cell at the summit of the mountain during the fifth century. Until the 1830s, people would walk here as part of a pilgrimage in late July.

This 9.4 km route sits in the sweet spot for a half-day outing — long enough to feel rewarding, short enough to leave the afternoon free. Expect around 2 hours and 6 minutes.

Laid out as a circular walk, this trail finishes exactly where it begins — no need to arrange transport back or retrace your steps.

As a Local Walking Network (LWN) route, this trail has a strong community character. It serves both regular local walkers and visitors discovering the area for the first time.